Roland Häder wrote:
> My suggestion here is that OpenMoko may design another phone - if the market
> asks for this:
>> - An OpenMoko for younger people who need the gaming controls Ortwin is
> mentioning as subject for removal.
>> - Another OpenMoko for professionals/business/older people without the gameing
> controls but bigger screen. Maybe there is one available? Surely the software
> shipped with this OpenMoko doesn't need include software which requires the
> gaming controls.
>> Any further ideas? :)
>> Roland
>>Yes. I propose a modular approach. 1 phone many external similar to
this idea: http://www.icontrolpad.com/
Additionally, there is a certain cool factor to having a single unit but
many docking stations if done right, for example:
Quick preview: http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3871478989.html
Their overbearing website: http://www.buglabs.net/products
Buglabs is doing something really cool, but you gotta code in java and
it doesn't fit into a pocket (well it does fit in a really big pocket).
It's pretty clear Mokos core group of users are very demanding, and
something like that would allow for everyone to be happy.
However, why I really think this could be a really great approach for
the moko is the 'Hey Cool!' factor.
Can you picture the conversation when you meet up with a buddy "hey
whats that on your moko? oh it's my new gamepod. COOOOOL! can i try it
on my moko? sure ... *CLICK* ... here you go. COOOOOOL!"
It also reduces the dev costs for moko, it allows it to remain a
smartphone and not move from that niche, reduces the number of formats
that people will be demanding the moko be made in and will start to
establish a hardware addon ecosystem beyond what is already being developed.
What the moko manufacturers then can pull is a NIKE. Instead of relying
purely on sales of the moko, they can turn them selves into an R&D and
marketing company and not only produce their own hardware if they want
to, but also licence officially supported modules and addons to control
quality and get a cut of each sale.
Also when usb3 comes along you can offload all sorts of stuff to that,
such as gfx co-porcessing if you want so all of a sudden you can get ati
into the picture with their completely documented processors and really
start something interesting.
Just some brianstorming ...
Rob